Verizon Wireless again raised the stakes in the wireless local number portability fight, urging the Federal Communications Commission to reject proposals from a number of its competitors that Verizon Wireless said would create barriers for wireless customers looking to switch carriers once WLNP is implemented later this year.
In a filing, Verizon Wireless claims a number of carriers, including Alltel Corp., AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Nextel Communications Inc. and Sprint PCS, (known as the Wireless Carrier Group) told the FCC that their understanding of WLNP would allow them to impose restrictions on customers looking to change carriers, including a one-time porting fee, restricted porting hours and requirements that customers pay any balance on their accounts before being allowed to take their numbers.
“Now on the verge of achieving wireless LNP, the commission faces a direct challenge to it that if not quickly and firmly rejected will gut the effectiveness of the mandate,” Verizon Wireless said in its filing.
Verizon Wireless reported details of its WLNP plans in June. The carrier said it would not charge upfront costs to current customers, it would not delay porting numbers due to unpaid balances and it expects to have numbers ported within hours of consumer requests. The carrier added that once WLNP is implemented, it would consider recovery charges of between 10 cents and 15 cents per month per subscriber.
Many of the carriers that Verizon Wireless claims are interested in erecting barriers to WLNP have added charges to their customers’ bills to recover WLNP costs prior to the implementation of the mandate.
The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, which has been fighting WLNP implementation on the grounds of costs to the industry and the lack of a mandate requiring wireline providers to port numbers to wireless carriers, downplayed Verizon Wireless’ claims and competitive posturing and instead demanded the FCC release effective guidelines for WLNP.
“Unfortunately, important policy decisions that will determine how wireless number portability will affect consumers are becoming a competitive slugfest rather than a search for solutions,” CTIA President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Wheeler said. “Fundamental issues regarding the basic implementation of number portability remain unanswered by the FCC. Without answers about implementation details, consumers will suffer.”
